Presented by USA Canoe/Kayak and the Oklahoma City Boathouse Foundation, the 2014 Coaching & Leadership Conference will be held at the Oklahoma City Boathouse District in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Feb. 14-16.

Among the scheduled guest speakers are the father and son Olympian duo of Tamas Buday, Sr. and Jr. Tamas Buday, Sr. is a two-time Olympic bronze medalist for Hungary in Men’s Sprint C-2 and former Canadian National Team Canoe Coach. Tamas Buday Jr. is a three-time Olympian for Canada in Sprint C-2 and current coach of the Pointe Claire Canoe Club in Montreal.

Also speaking is John Edwards, Chair of the International Canoe Federation’s Canoe For All Committee and a 1976 Olympic canoeist for Canada.

“Coaching education and the development of clubs are huge priorities for USA Canoe/Kayak,” said USA Canoe/Kayak CEO Joe Jacobi. “The opportunity to bring these key stakeholders together in Oklahoma City at a visionary paddlesports venue to exchange ideas, network with peers and learn from top-notch presenters who openly share their knowledge and success is amazing. The Coaching and Leadership Conference truly does offer something for everyone – it is one of my favorite weekends of the year.”

Two-time U.S. ParaCanoe World Championship silver medalist Megan Blunk and Gig Harbor Canoe and Kayak Race Team Coach Alan Anderson will discuss opportunities in ParaCanoe and the U.S. National Team Program as the sport prepares for its debut at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Other presenters include U.S. National Team Coach Shaun Caven, U.S. Sprint High Performance Manger Michele Eray, and USA Canoe/Kayak Board Chairman Bob Lally.

Awards will be given out for the year’s best Coach, Development Coach, and Volunteer.

“This is the most ambitious conference to date,” said U.S. National Sprint Development Director Mac Hickox. “The science of our sport will be presented by Dr. Jay T. Kearney, former USOC Head of Performance Services, and Dr. Neil Fleming of Indiana State University. A coaches/official's mobile app will be introduced by Chris Snyder of the United States Olympic Committee.”

Headquartered in Oklahoma City, USA Canoe/Kayak is a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee and the International Canoe Federation. It governs the Olympic disciplines of Flatwater Sprint, Whitewater Slalom, the Paralympic discipline of Paracanoe and sanctions Freestyle, Marathon, Outrigger, Wildwater, Stand Up Paddle Board, Kayak Polo, Dragon Boat and Canoe Sailing in the United States. For more information about USA Canoe/Kayak, please visit us on the web atwww.usack.org, on Twitter at @usacanoekayak and Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/USACanoeKayak.